AMAs 50th Anniversary Special Draws Record 12.9M Viewers, 65M Social Views

The American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special, which aired on Oct. 6 on CBS, achieved a major milestone, reaching over 12.9 million viewers.

The star-studded special, celebrating five decades of iconic performances and fan-favorite artists, ranked as CBS’s top entertainment program for the month of October, outperforming major sports events such as the MLB Playoffs and NASCAR.

More from Billboard

• The Cure's Robert Smith Says Writing About Brother's Death on 'I Can Never Say Goodbye' Helped Him 'Enormously'

• Neil Young Endorses Kamala Harris For President: 'Cast Your Vote For a Beautiful Future For Your Family'

• Rihanna Says Being a Boy Mom Is 'So Fun' But, Candidly, 'It's Just Hard to Share Toys and Pacifiers'

Averaging 6 million viewers, the AMAs became the second most-watched entertainment program of the day, trailing only the NFL. Social engagement added another layer of success, with over 65 million views across social platforms, making it the most-streamed AMAs in the show’s history.

It also saw a +54% year-over-year growth from the previous show in 2022, and marked the largest year-over-year growth for any music special or award show in 2024.

The broadcast was packed with performances from legendary names including Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Green Day, and Gladys Knight.

The show opened with a clip package from the first show, including Stevie Wonder playing “Superstition” and Gladys Knight & the Pips performing “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Both songs were No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and remain top-tier classics. The show then cut to Knight performing the song live, with three female backup singers taking the place of Gladys’ beloved Pips.

Emerging talent also shared the stage, including Stray Kids and RAYE, adding a contemporary edge to a night that honored five decades of music.

One of the standout performances came from EGOT recipient Jennifer Hudson, who honored 22-time AMA winner Whitney Houston by recreating a medley Houston performed on the 1994 AMAs, a pairing of “I Loves You, Porgy” from Porgy & Bess and her own smash “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard.

With its fan-voted format, the AMAs have long been a reflection of popular tastes, and the 50th Anniversary Special made it clear why the awards have remained relevant for half a century.

The American Music Awards will return in 2025, live from Las Vegas over Memorial Day Weekend, with an ambitious tribute to America’s veterans and a celebration of the year’s most popular artists.

Best of Billboard

• Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1

• Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits

• H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.